Ryan Day has had enough of College Football’s poaching problem

Sure, here’s a 1500-word exploration on Ryan Day and the poaching problem in college football:

Ryan Day Takes a Stand Against College Football’s Poaching Problem

The landscape of college football is changing rapidly. With the advent of the NCAA Transfer Portal and a constantly shifting landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, college football coaches are facing challenges that go beyond the gridiron. One of the most pressing issues in the sport today is “poaching”—the practice of teams aggressively recruiting players already committed to other programs. Ryan Day, the head coach of Ohio State, has become one of the more vocal critics of this practice, expressing frustration over how it disrupts the traditional nature of college football recruiting and affects the integrity of the sport.

Poaching in college football has reached a level that many coaches, including Day, consider unacceptable. It’s no longer just about competing for players; it’s about the aggressive tactics that some programs are employing to attract talent that was already committed elsewhere. Day’s position reflects the broader concerns of many coaches who fear that poaching undermines the stability of rosters and makes recruiting less about the players’ long-term development and more about quick fixes to fill immediate needs.

The Rise of the Transfer Portal

The NCAA Transfer Portal, introduced in 2018, has become a significant factor in the evolution of college football recruiting. The portal allows players to transfer between programs without needing to sit out a year, as was previously the case. This has given players more freedom and flexibility, but it has also opened the door for coaches to target players who were once considered off-limits—those already committed to other schools.

While the portal provides athletes with more opportunities to find the right fit, it also gives programs an easy way to poach players from rival schools. Coaches have become adept at monitoring the portal to find players who can immediately contribute to their teams, but this has created a “wild west” atmosphere in college football, where rosters can change dramatically year after year. For coaches like Ryan Day, this represents a fundamental shift in how college football recruiting works—and one that doesn’t always play fair.

The NIL Factor

Another factor contributing to the poaching problem is the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Since 2021, college athletes have been allowed to profit from their NIL rights, which has introduced a new dynamic to recruiting. While NIL deals are meant to give athletes the ability to monetize their brand, they have also made it easier for schools with larger financial resources to entice players with lucrative deals. In some cases, this has led to allegations that certain programs are using NIL opportunities as a form of “poaching,” offering financial incentives to players already committed to other schools.

Ryan Day has expressed concerns that the combination of NIL and the transfer portal is turning college football into a business, where the traditional relationships between coaches, players, and programs are being replaced by financial transactions. This has made recruiting less about developing young athletes and more about attracting high-profile transfers with the promise of immediate playing time and financial rewards.

Ryan Day’s Position on Poaching

Ryan Day’s frustration with the poaching problem came to the forefront during an interview with reporters. He voiced his concerns about how the increased pressure to win, combined with the freedom provided by the Transfer Portal and NIL, has led to what he describes as a “broken system.” He pointed out that some schools are focusing on recruiting players who are already committed elsewhere, rather than focusing on developing young talent within their own programs.

Day’s comments reflect a larger tension in college football. Coaches who have built their programs around long-term player development and recruitment are now facing a system that rewards instant gratification. The poaching problem makes it harder for coaches to maintain stability within their programs. Instead of building a team over several years, coaches must constantly worry about losing key players to transfer and poaching from rival programs. This makes it difficult to maintain continuity and chemistry within the team, two elements that are essential for sustained success.

For Ryan Day, the issue goes beyond just the impact on his own team. He believes that poaching harms the entire college football ecosystem. It places a greater emphasis on individual players and their personal brand rather than the team and the program as a whole. Day’s emphasis on team-building and long-term development has made him an outspoken critic of what he sees as a system that prioritizes short-term success over sustainable growth.

The Impact of Poaching on College Football

The poaching problem has far-reaching consequences for college football. First and foremost, it creates an environment where loyalty and commitment are undermined. Players who once committed to a particular school may feel compelled to explore other options when a larger program comes calling, especially if they are offered better NIL deals or the chance to compete for championships. This disrupts the stability of college football programs and makes it difficult for coaches to build long-term plans around their rosters.

Additionally, poaching leads to an uneven playing field. Wealthier programs with bigger budgets and more NIL opportunities are able to attract top talent, which puts smaller schools at a disadvantage. This creates a gap between the haves and the have-nots, as programs with fewer resources struggle to compete for top recruits and transfers.

For coaches like Ryan Day, this creates a constant cycle of uncertainty. No matter how successful a program is, coaches are left with the looming possibility that key players might transfer or be poached by rivals. This makes it harder to build a cohesive team culture and maintain the necessary depth and continuity to compete at the highest level. Day’s frustration with this system is not just about losing players—it’s about the erosion of the values that have long been central to college football, including loyalty, teamwork, and long-term development.

Possible Solutions

Ryan Day has called for reforms to address the poaching problem in college football. While he has not outlined specific policy proposals, there are several potential solutions that could help mitigate the issue.

One possible solution is to introduce stricter rules regarding the use of NIL deals in recruiting. Currently, there are few regulations governing how NIL deals can be used to attract recruits or transfers, leading to a “pay-for-play” environment that may encourage poaching. Implementing clearer guidelines could help ensure that NIL deals are used in a way that benefits both players and programs without distorting the competitive balance of college football.

Another potential reform is to adjust the rules governing the Transfer Portal. While the portal has given players more freedom to transfer, it has also made it easier for schools to poach players from other programs. One solution could be to introduce a “cooling-off” period that would prevent schools from recruiting players who are already committed elsewhere or have recently entered the portal. This could reduce the temptation for programs to aggressively pursue players from rival teams and help maintain the integrity of the recruiting process.

Finally, the NCAA could consider adopting policies that place a greater emphasis on player development within programs. This would involve creating incentives for teams to focus on developing homegrown talent rather than relying on transfers to fill roster gaps. By encouraging programs to invest in long-term player development, the NCAA could help reduce the reliance on the Transfer Portal and lessen the impact of poaching.